Parishes prepare to celebrate Our Lady of Guadalupe - and a legislative alert on pending anti-immigrant legislation

Latinos throughout the Philadelphia Archdiocese are preparing for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Dec. 12).

A major celebration will take place at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul at 18th and the Parkway Sunday, Dec. 11. Processions will start out from St. Thomas Aquinas and Annunciation BVM in South Philadelphia, and from Visitation BVM, St. Michael and St. Peter the Apostle in North Philadelphia, at 7 p.m. As the processions arrive at the Cathedral at 8 p.m. when mariachis and those gathered will serenade Our Lady of Guadalupe with Las Mañanitas - the traditional way to mark the vigil of her feast day. Mass with mariachi music will begin at 9, followed by an indoor procession, a presentation of roses to Our Lady, and refreshments. Join us for this incredibly joyful and festive celebration!

Here's a video snippet from a past celebration of the feast day:

On Dec. 12 itself, at Our Lady of Fatima in Bensalem, the Mañanitas vigil takes place at 5 a.m. A procession takes starts at 6 p.m. and the feast day Mass begins at 8 p.m.

Non fecit taliter omni nationi. ¡Que viva la Morenita!

---
Voice your opposition to these two pieces of legislation:

SB 9: SB 9 passed the House State Government Committee on Tuesday and is scheduled for a vote on the House Floor on Monday, Dec. 12. SB 9 would require applicants for a wide range of public benefits to show government-issued ID. The bill's supporters claim that its purpose is to prevent undocumented immigrants from receiving benefits that they are ineligible for - even though there is no evidence that this is happening. Instead, the bill would prevent eligible Pennsylvanians who lack ID from accessing the benefits they need and cost millions in taxpayer dollars to implement. Project H.O.M.E. Philadelphia's tireless advocates for the homeless have opposed this bill precisely because of the anticipated impact on homeless citizens. Click here for an automated form to voice your opposition.

HB 439: On November 15, HB 439 became the first anti-immigrant bill to pass the PA House. HB 439 would require licensing boards and commissions to revoke the license of any business that knowingly hires an unauthorized worker. This could mean that an entire hospital's license could be revoked because of a single undocumented employee. This provision could make employers hesitant to hire foreign-born workers and create an atmosphere of fear and bigotry in the workplace. HB 439 has been committed to the Senate State Government committee. Click here for an automated form to voice your opposition.

 

Preview a segment from a film about Mexican community in Philadelphia

This is an excerpt from the beginning of El Sol Sale Para Todos a 54 minute documentary about the growth of the Mexican community in South Philadelphia.
Directed by Leticia Roa Nixon, Carlos Pascual Sanchez and Laura Deutch.

By now the Mexican community of faithful at St. Thomas Aquinas is so large and devoted they not only celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe at that church (and overflow onto the streets) but at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul, which fits 1,000+ people and fills to the rafters during that celebration.

In addition, Antonio (one of the first people interviewed in the piece, was instrumental in the move to bring an image of la Morena to the Cathedral, as a permanent shrine. I will tell you -- her bank of candles is always, always lit.

Guadalupe 2010

Images from the 2010 celebration of the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul in Philadelphia - thanks to the remarkable camera of CS&T freelancer Kevin Cook (kevincookphoto.com).

Immigration magic

"A woman. No I.D. Tracked down from the cell phone listing of another detainee."

from Flying with the Dead: http://bit.ly/bqTgfx


Full issue: http://crossedgenres.com/store/print/issue-24-print-createspace/

La Morenita is in the house

Sunday, Oct. 10, 2010. The Mariachi is Los Halcones from Reading, Pa. La Morenita now has a permanent place in the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul -- Philadelphia's mother church.

A feast day like no other

Ready?

The feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe is nearly upon us.

Want the full Misa de Gallo experience as you'd have in Mexico or Latin America? Try St. Isidore Church in Quakertown, were the Mass begins on Friday and ends on Saturday. Yes, that's right, a midnight Mass with mariachis and roses and all the pageantry that accompanies this feast. The Mass will be celebrated by our Vicar for Hispanic Catholics, Msgr. Hugh Shields.

Not quite up for a midnight Mass? Try the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul in Philadelphia on Saturday, Dec. 12 instead. The Mass will be celebrated by Cardinal Justin Rigali from 7 to 11 p.m. The usual crowd from St. Thomas of Aquinas parish is expected to absolutely fill the Cathedral. This promises to be spectacular. I don't know if there will be matachines -- also known as the "soldiers of the Virgin"-- with their amazing outfits (those are matachines in this post's lead image) but if there are, you are in for a treat

Nearly every parish across the Archdiocese that has a Spanish-language Mass will celebrate a Mass for Guadalupe's feast day: Immaculate Conception in Levittown, Our Lady of Fatima in Bensalem, St. Patrick in Norristown, Visitation in the city, Mision Sta. Maria in Avondale and St. Cecilia in Coatesville are the ones I know about, among many others I'm sure.

Truly, if you've never experienced this feast day Mass at a church with Latino congregants, you must. Veneration of Our Lady of Guadalupe is joyful and festive and heartfelt -- and you'll never talk about pews empty of people again.
Next up in the Latino trifecta of the Christmas season: Las posadas -- which start Dec. 16 and run through Dec. 24.


(Photos by Sarah Webb and Joanna Lightner for the Catholic Standard & Times)